For most wives, the thought of their husband dating, sleeping with or falling in love with another woman is devastating.

But for one mum, it isn’t a terrible notion at all – in fact, she is pleased that her partner of 11 years is ‘head over heels’ for someone else.

Carson, who uses a pseudonym, is part of The Quad – a polyamorous foursome made up of herself, her husband Raymond, her boyfriend Jason and Jason's partner of 12 years and fiancé, Alex.

She doesn’t bat an eyelid as her spouse, Raymond, goes on ‘date nights’ with his lover, Alex, every week and even encouraged him to get a girlfriend. Likewise Raymond recently wished his wife "happy first anniversary" with her boyfriend.

While Raymond and Alex have been dating for 15 months, Carson and Jason are in their own relationship – and have been for nearly a year and a half.

But despite their happy pairings, Carson, who grew up in a "religiously conservative family", and Raymond are still blissfully married with a 13-year-old son, who has had to explain to his friends what his parents' polyamorous relationship means.

Meanwhile, Alex and Jason remain engaged.

The Quad’s relationships

Carson & Raymond – Married

Alex & Jason – Engaged

Carson & Jason – Dating

Alex & Raymond – Dating

Jason & Raymond – ‘Metas’ (each other’s partner’s partner)

Carson & Alex – ‘Metas’

Remarkably, each member of The Quad is close to all of the others – including their partner's lover (whom they call their ‘meta’, short for ‘metamour’).

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the group’s multiple romances have led to some confusing – and in many cases, amusing – situations with members of the public.

They have left waiters bemused with their displays of affection in restaurants, while others have been startled to hear them gushing about their ‘meta’.

Speaking exclusively to Mirror Online, Alex said: “There are a multitude of situations that come up in polyamory that include an amusing take or funny twist simply because of their nature.

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“On occasion, Carson and I will spend a separate weekend evening together while Alex and Raymond will do the same.

“When we are all together as The Quad, most times, we act very much like a close family. At dinner, we take turns making it and the others do the dishes.

"We are support for one another. We are love.”

The group say they have satisfying sex lives – and particularly enjoy cuddling.

Describing their love life as ‘fulfilling’, Jason added: “Sex has never really been an issue, actually. In fact, when the sex has proven to be challenging is when our love, compassion, tenderness, pampering, and care for each other have been the most rewarding.

“Simple things, such as cuddling, are actually just as satisfying as sex can be.”

The Quad began after Carson became interested in polyamory and the deep "feeling of community and acceptance" that it appeared to offer.

The mum broached the subject with Raymond and, after numerous ‘long and difficult' conversations, the pair decided to look into it.

At the same time, unbeknown to them, Jason and Alex were discussing their own relationship – which had ‘always been based on polyamory’.

Jason eventually met Carson on a dating website early last year after his fiancée told him she ‘wished’ he had a girlfriend to spend time with. They started dating in early 2015 and hanging out as a foursome, when Raymond said him and Alex just seemed to "click."

Alex said she and Raymond were under ‘a bit’ of pressure on their first date because their compatibility ‘could make or break the potential for The Quad’’.

She added: “Luckily, we didn't let that fear hold us back, and actually tried not to think about it too much.

“This is that relationship configuration that a lot of polyamorous people are looking for or hoping to find, and somehow we all did."

In a bid to address some of the stereotypes about polyamory, The Quad have set up a Twitter feed, called Our Poly Life, where they provide updates on their daily lives.

They also use the platform to describe amusing situations they have been in.

One of the group’s tweets reads: “Being in a #polyamorous relationship isn’t that different except you hear things like “I’m really lucky your wife met my fiancé on OKCupid.”

Another says: “When you discover your wife has a hickey and the thing that bothers you is that you didn’t notice it yesterday. #polyproblems #polyamory.”

A third adds: “Going out with The Quad is like when you used to go out with your BF, your BFF and her BF – except you’re also married to her BF. #polyamory.”

And a fourth states: “Never before realised that it was possible, and so amazing, to be so loved and spoiled by two different men at the same time. #Polyamory.”

But it’s not always fun.

One tweet reads: “Sometime being #poly means getting whiplash from the emotional rollercoaster. So thankful for the support system that keeps me buckled in.”

Raymond told Mirror Online: “We started the Twitter account initially because being polyamorous in a monogamous society often puts us in amusing situations, such as watching the confusion on a waiter's face when we're all holding hands and he can't figure out how to split the check. That stuff is fun to tweet about.

“What I've come to realize, however, is that it's much more important than that. There's a lot of prejudice against polyamorous relationships...

“Tweeting about our abnormal lives, I think, is a way to lend some normalcy to the polyamorous lifestyle, and maybe even help shift social attitudes about non-monogamy.”

He added that he believes his and Carson’s ‘lifestyle’ doesn’t make much difference to their teenage son. If anything, it has a ‘positive’ effect on him.

He said: “When my wife and I starting seeing other people, it didn't even phase him.

“He was overheard once explaining to a friend that his parents love more than one person just like he loves more than one parent.

“I don't think our lifestyle makes much difference to him, but hopefully it's taught him to love more freely, even if he doesn't decide to embrace polyamory for himself.”

Carson agreed about the impact on her son. She said: “I do think our polyamorous lifestyle has had a positive effect on him because it affords him more role models and access to a wider variety of world perspectives.

“He has more close-knit people who love him, that he can learn from, and that he can turn to if he needs extra support with something.

“He has said that Jason and Alex are like ‘second parents’ to him.”

The Quad’s advice to people considering polyamory

Carson: “Read everything you can on the subject. Check out MoreThanTwo.com, get their book, and read it twice. I would also recommend working to develop solid introspection, empathy, and communication skills. It’s important (for both you and your prospective partners) to make sure your relationship is solid before you start adding the layers of complexity that polyamory brings with it.”

Raymond: “Take your time and talk a LOT. Also, check you motivations. If your current relationship isn't fulfilling, don't expect a second one to make up for it. Polyamory is a rewarding lifestyle, but it's also incredibly difficult. It involves more communication, more time management, and more WORK than you would ever imagine going into it. I think most people have been in that situation of becoming interested in someone while in a relationship with someone else. At that point, most people see three possible choices: Reject the new love interest, leave your current partner, or cheat. Polyamory offers an alternative. It's a hard conversation, especially in a relationship that's been monogamous, but, as our experience has shown, not impossible, and may be well worth having."

Alex: “Go slow. Push the envelope, but gently. Be brutally honest with yourself and your partner(s) AT ALL TIMES. It's tough to own your own stuff, but it's absolutely necessary if you're serious about polyamory and not just playing.”

Jason: “If you find yourself being more inclined to be polyamorous be prepared, more than anything, as in any successful relationship really, to always communicate...communicate often, then clarify, and repeat. Also, as a bonus, learn your partner’s love languages. Knowing what they have as needs in how they communicate their love can help your communication abilities and provide a greater love in your relationships.”